Still unbeaten in Group E, Atletico Madrid aim to take one step closer to the Champions League's knockout rounds as they reconvene with Celtic on Tuesday.
Atleti had to work hard for a 2-2 draw in last month's reverse fixture, but they remain within a point of top spot at the halfway stage.
Match preview
© Reuters
Twice required to come from behind to earn a point at Celtic Park, Atletico Madrid turned to in-form forwards Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata for inspiration last time out in Group E, before losing midfield heartbeat Rodrigo De Paul to a late red card.
Griezmann converted the rebound from a saved penalty, while his strike partner headed Atleti level again during the second half, leaving the Spanish side second in the standings on five points, one behind leaders Feyenoord.
After being held to a dramatic draw by Lazio on the opening matchday, Diego Simeone's men had previously battled back to beat Feyenoord 3-2 in Madrid, the latter being only the third win in their last 13 Champions League group games.
While things have not run entirely smoothly in Europe, Los Colchoneros recently equalled a club record by stringing together 14 consecutive home victories in La Liga, and they have won seven of their last nine matches all told.
However, Morata's late goal was not enough to stop them losing at Las Palmas on Friday night, which means Simeone's side have taken maximum points from just two of their last six away games; but they return to home turf this week, with back-to-back fixtures against Celtic and Villarreal.
Now making their 11th Champions League group appearance in succession, after surprisingly finishing bottom of their section last year, Atletico have never lost to Celtic in the past - posting four wins from seven previous meetings - so they will expect to keep that run going and inch closer to the last 16.
© Reuters
Travelling to Madrid with nine successive defeats in Spain behind them, Celtic will be heavily burdened by the weight of history this week, as they have also managed just one win from their last 16 Champions League away games.
They posted their first point of this season's campaign in last month's reverse fixture, when first-half goals from Kyogo Furuhashi and Luis Palma were not quite enough to seal success in the East End of Glasgow, but Brendan Rodgers's side are still bottom of Group E with three games to play.
Sitting three points behind third-placed Lazio, having followed a dismal loss at Feyenoord with a last-gasp home defeat to the Rome club, Celtic are already facing another early exit - but they remain in contention for at least a Europa League playoff place.
Unbeaten in the Premiership, with 10 wins from 12 games, the Bhoys scored three times after the interval to beat Ross County at the weekend, but bridging the gap in Europe's top club competition has proved too tough for Scotland's perennial champions.
The first British club to win the European Cup back in 1967, and runners-up to Feyenoord three years later, Celtic's proud tradition speaks for itself, but Rodgers has an underwhelming record in the Champions League and has not embellished it with his team's results this season.
Team News
© Reuters
Once again, Atletico Madrid's attack will be led by two men with plenty of elite-level experience on Tuesday night, as Alvaro Morata partners Antoine Griezmann, who has scored in eight times in his last nine club games.
Despite racking up 32 goals from 88 Champions League appearances overall, Griezmann has yet to score in three on the spin, but he will now try to do so against Celtic. Meanwhile, Morata has produced three goals in his last two Champions League matches - more than throughout the previous 16.
Another Atleti forward, Memphis Depay, will be missing again, while Samuel Lino has been sidelined by a knee injury since mid-October, and Thomas Lemar (Achilles) is ruled out until next year; Rodrigo De Paul serves a suspension after his dismissal at Parkhead.
Celtic's Reo Hatate - who had only recently returned from a calf problem - will miss the rest of the group stage after sustaining a hamstring injury early on in October's reverse fixture.
Stephen Welsh and Liel Abada also remain on the treatment table, but either David Turnbull or Benfica loanee Paulo Bernardo replacing Hatate may be the visitors' only change to the XI that started against Atletico in Scotland.
Featuring up front, Kyogo Furuhashi has scored in both of his last two Champions League matches. With a goal in midweek, he would become the first Celtic player to score in three consecutive European Cup or Champions League appearances since Joseph Craig back in 1977.
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Savic, Witsel, Hermoso; Molina, Barrios, Koke, Saul, Riquelme; Griezmann, Morata
Celtic possible starting lineup:
Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; Turnbull, McGregor, O'Riley; Palma, Furuhashi, Maeda
We say: Atletico Madrid 2-1 Celtic
Atletico have recorded only four clean sheets from their first 15 games of the season - and just one in the last seven - so Celtic should have hope of scoring at the Metropolitano. However, Atleti have proven too strong for any side on home soil over the past few months, and they certainly boast the firepower to post back-to-back wins over the Scottish champions.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
